How to write a poem

Besides writing books, self publishing and teaching “How to Write Your Story” I have been blessed with the gift of poetry. If this may be an outlet for you I would like to help you.

I usually begin with an idea, thought or feeling about something. It could be “A Garden Walk”, “Running from Something”, “Finding Your Way Back”, “A Picnic”, “Joy”, “Love”, “Peace”, almost endless.

The office supply stores have stationary which give you great ideas. At the holidays there are some beautiful paper for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Ocean Breezes, Rainbows, Children at Play, Sunrise, Sunset, Clouds, Patriotic themes for soldiers, Flag, Flowers, Fruit and many more.

I was asked to enter one of my poem to be consider for a book of poems. My thought was what would be different than the normal. I thought of what is poetry?
Most poems they want 20 stanzas or lines. I have chosen Monotype Corsiva as my font 28 for the title. Then the body is #18. I keep my poems to five paragraphs. I like this font because I feel the flow as I write. The #18 and five stanzas work perfect on an 81/2 x 11 paper with my signature at the bottom. When I want to put one of my poems in a 6x9 book I have written the poem fits perfectly when I cut and paste it in.

My poems ending words do not always rhyme. As long as the thought flows the reader will continue onto the next paragraph. This is called prose. Sometimes I cannot find a rhyming word to say what I want too. This may or may not be comfortable for your reader. They may prefer that the words rhyme. It is something that you will have to decide for yourself but it is more about getting across your thought or feelings than worrying about words rhyming. Of the five poems I had accepted to be published they did not seem to think that as I wrote the poems they were perfectly satisfied.

I start with basically answering the title question such as “Poetry Is…In this particular poem I started each paragraph with “Poetry Is…The last paragraph should tie up your thoughts and I try to leave on a positive note.